Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg: Barcelona vs. Schalke 04

Barcelona president Joan Laporta received his first ‘pañolada’ on Sunday evening. A pañolada in Spain is when the home fans at the game wave white handkerchiefs in the air to show their disapproval. To be fair, Barcelona didn’t play that badly in the goalless draw at home to Getafe, and were unlucky not to score, hitting the post three times. Getafe however, still on a cloud after drawing in Germany against Bayern in the UEFA cup, didn’t show Barcelona any respect at all and could also have taken the game.

Barcelona must now turn their attention to the Champions League where they have to defend their one goal to nil advantage over Schalke 04. In theory Barcelona have everything in their favor; they are playing in front of their own fans at the Nou Camp stadium, they have an away goal from the first leg, and Schalke 04 aren’t really a team to fear. Or are they?

Barcelona are in the midst of a crisis at the moment, even if the results aren’t that bad. Ronaldinho seems to have played his last game for the Catalan giants, as the club doctors have now stated he is indeed injured and will be out for what is left of the season. Strange that only a week ago they were saying there was nothing wrong with him. The club is still waiting for Leo Messi to reappear as well. They were not at all happy when the Argentinean announced that he would be recuperating in his native country instead of staying in Barcelona,  and another player, Thierry Henry, doesn’t know if he is injured or not. Many people are saying the ex-Arsenal legend was a waste of money and that the London club knew only too well his physical problems.

The main problem though, and this is what is angering many Barca fans, is the lack of fight in the team. Many can’t believe that their team can throw away a two goal lead and lose to a side like Betis who are struggling to maintain their category. Coach Frank Rijkaard needs to make sure his players do everything in this match or we will see a lot more ‘pañoladas’.

Schalke 04 meanwhile travel to the Nou Camp knowing what an uphill task lies before them but also with morale high as they are now second in the Bundesliga after beating Rostock at the weekend. Jermaine Jones gets back into the lineup after serving a one match ban in the first leg, but Ze Roberto will miss the game with a torn thigh muscle.

Barcelona need to be careful of Gabi Milito, Charles Puyol, Rafa Marquez and Yaya Touré. All four players are one yellow card away from a one match ban, so if they do make it past Schalke 04 they will need to be very careful.

I am going to have to go for Barcelona making it through to the semi finals here. For Schalke 04 to score two goals and win is a bit unlikely, unless something very odd happens. They played very well in the first leg and were unlucky not to score, and that is where they let themselves down.

Prediction: Home win (1-0)